A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
June 14, 2023 11:48 AM - Subscribe
A haunting Southern Gothic from a bestselling master of suspense, A House With Good Bones explores the dark, twisted roots lurking just beneath the veneer of a perfect home and family.
“Mom seems off.”
Her brother’s words echo in Sam Montgomery’s ear as she turns onto the quiet North Carolina street where their mother lives alone.
She brushes the thought away as she climbs the front steps. Sam’s excited for this rare extended visit, and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine, watching murder mystery shows, and guessing who the killer is long before the characters figure it out.
But stepping inside, she quickly realizes home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above.
To find out what’s got her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried.
“Mom seems off.”
Her brother’s words echo in Sam Montgomery’s ear as she turns onto the quiet North Carolina street where their mother lives alone.
She brushes the thought away as she climbs the front steps. Sam’s excited for this rare extended visit, and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine, watching murder mystery shows, and guessing who the killer is long before the characters figure it out.
But stepping inside, she quickly realizes home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above.
To find out what’s got her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried.
Another of Kingfisher's no-nonsense heroines tackles supernatural horror with aplomb and, in this case, archaeoentomology. And yes, there is a witch who gardens. Good stuff.
posted by kyrademon at 2:40 PM on June 14, 2023
posted by kyrademon at 2:40 PM on June 14, 2023
While I'm more a fan of the Clocktaur/Paladin of Steel books, I enjoyed this one once it started to ramp up and not just seem like her mother being off.
posted by Marticus at 7:23 PM on June 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Marticus at 7:23 PM on June 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
I really loved this one. I love all of T. Kingfisher's horror, though, so that's no surprise!
posted by maryellenreads at 11:23 AM on June 18, 2023
posted by maryellenreads at 11:23 AM on June 18, 2023
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posted by quatsch at 11:56 AM on June 14, 2023